Page 164 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
The multi-team trade fell through. Fucking shit. Motor City tanked it to sign another Deloitte, instead of taking me.
I’ve never even heard of this guy.
Bronson Deloitte.Sounds like a tool.
Nia
I’m sorry. We’re not so bad.
Anders
No, you’re not. I’ve just been expecting the trade to go through.
Fuuuuccccck.
I felt bad for him, since he really wanted to go to Motor City. Theyhadstrung him along all summer. It was alreadySeptember.
Me
That’s awful. Call your agent. Maybe something else can be arranged?
Grif
Another Deloitte nepo baby? Probably an asshole like the others.
“What the fuck, man,” Carlos said, trying to eat and read the group chat at the same time, getting sauce on his phone. He wiped it off with his thumb and licked it.
“This trade was doomed to fail once it got past four teams.” Dimitri frowned. “In Russia, it would not have been legal to have such a trade.”
It seemed large and awkward.
“Weren’t we expecting a forward out of this?” I asked. The texts came flying through, mostly comforting Anders, teasing him about having to be a Knight again, offering advice, and lambasting the Deloittes.
Dimitri nodded. “From the Scorpions. Castle could do it. We’ll be fine.”
Dean
Wonder if this Bronson asshole’s the one Castle was talking about.
Carlos looked up. “Sounds like an asshole.”
I frowned. “He could be nice. We shouldn’t assume all Deloittes are mean.”
I didn’t know him. At the same time, wouldn’t the Gears have planned for another Deloitte? It wasn’t like a fully-formed PHL-caliber forward would come out of nowhere. Huh.
“Not everyone’s a good person, Clark,” Dimitri replied.
We turned on the sports news, taking our food into the living room.
Grandpappy Deloitte, the owner of the Motor City Gears, was giving a press conference. “I’m so pleased that my grandson, Bronson Deloitte, has chosen to follow in his brothers’ footsteps and join the Gears as our newest forward.”
Next to him was his son, Coach Deloitte, and a blond guy with a bit of a beard in a very expensive suit. The guy kept moving his head in a way that made it hard to make out exactly what he looked like. He wore sunglasses. Inside.
“We’re getting a fucking line of Deloittes.” Carlos made a face. “We’re playing them for the home opener, too.”
“Ignore the trash talk. That’s what I do.” I finished my pasta. It was so good and I texted Gwen to let her know that, along with a picture of my empty plate.
“Welcome to the team, Son,” Coach Deloitte said, giving Bronson a Gears hat.
